Over 100 liters of ice-cold water plummeted onto students and faculty of the Department of Biology who took the ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge.

Assistant Professor of Biology, Jordan M. Renna and students in the Neuroscience in Health and Disease class also donated $730 to raise awareness for ALS.

Renna was nominated to do the challenge, but he thought he could make a bigger splash if more people joined him. He let students vote anonymously to see if they would like to take part in the challenge.

Renna told the students that doing the challenge was “not for a grade and not for extra credit.” The vast majority of the class voted yes. The professor emphasized that the students were the ones who pushed participation in the challenge. He said that it would not have been possible without their generosity. The students raised $365, which the Department of Biology staff matched, resulting in $730.

The professor nominated Kent State University’s Department of Biological Sciences and all neuroscience classes in the country to complete the challenge. Kent State University has accepted the challenge. According to Renna, they completed the challenge and raised $80.

Renna is proud to say that with their contribution of over $800 has been donated to the ALS Association.

The ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge that gained popularity over the summer has spiked the number of donations to the ALS Association. According to the ALS Association, the widespread participation resulted in $113.3 million in donations as of Monday, Sept. 15.

There is no cure for ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons in the body degenerate and when the neurons die resulting in patients losing the ability to control muscle movement. Patients often become paralyzed. The ALS Association appreciates the support which is providing the resources needed to search for a cure.

The Department of Biology’s ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge has been viewed over 500 times on YouTube after only five days. The University of Akron shared the event on their Facebook page, receiving 50 likes thus far.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is a great way to continue the support after millions have participated in the challenge.

Hang on for a minute...we're trying to find some more stories you might like.

Email This Story

To post a comment on a story, you must provide your name and a valid email address. The Comments Forum is a place for civil discussion and debate. The editors reserve to right to remove any comment that is submitted under false pretenses or that includes personal attack, libel, hate speech, or inaccurate or misleading information. Readers who notice comments that appear to violate these standards are encouraged to contact the Editor-in-Chief at 330-972-6184.